Definitions

(noun) plum
(noun) surname

Etymology

A plum () is the offspring () of a tree ().

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

李 is an ideogrammic compound, with the tree radical 木 atop the component 子, meaning child or seed. This combination, depicting a tree bearing fruit, originally denoted the plum tree and its fruit. Beyond this botanical sense, 李 is one of the most common Chinese surnames. Its use as a family name, tied to historical legends and prominent lineages, has become its primary modern function, far outweighing its original meaning in everyday use.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个子很甜。

Zhège lǐzi hěn tián.

This plum is very sweet.

老师教我们数学。

Lǐ lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Li teaches us math.

我的行在车里。

Wǒ de xínglǐ zài chē lǐ.

My luggage is in the car.

院子里有棵子树。

Yuànzi lǐ yǒu kē lǐzishù.

There is a plum tree in the yard.

他姓,叫华。

Tā xìng Lǐ, jiào Lǐ Huá.

His surname is Li, and his name is Li Hua.

子是一种常见的水果。

Lǐzi shì yī zhǒng chángjiàn de shuǐguǒ.

Plums are a common type of fruit.

请帮我拿一下行好吗?

Qǐng bāng wǒ ná yīxià xínglǐ hǎo ma?

Could you please help me with the luggage?

仔细地把行放在后备箱。

Xiǎo Lǐ zǐxì de bǎ xínglǐ fàng zài hòubèixiāng.

Xiao Li carefully placed the luggage in the trunk.